Tomato prices gain on tight supply

Fall in supply against good domestic demand pushed tomato prices up by Rs 400-650 a quintal on Sunday.

Just around 600 crates (a crate is 25 kg) of different varieties of tomato arrived at the Karnal vegetable market and were quoted between Rs 800-2,500 a quintal. Around 3,500 crates of varieties such as 592, Abhilash, Nasik, Trishul and 524 were received in the markets of Karnal district.

Out of total arrivals, about 25 per cent stock was of low quality; around 58 per cent stock was of medium quality while just about 17 per cent stock of total arrivals was of superior quality.

Vikas Sachdeva, a trade expert, told Business Line that low availability of stocks coupled with frantic buying by the traders mainly pushed tomato prices upwards. Arrivals of new crop haven’t started yet and prices may increase further in a couple of days, he added. Most of the produce from the previous crop has already arrived in the markets.

Prices of superior quality increased by Rs 650 a quintal and quoted at Rs 2,200-2,500 a quintal. The prices of Medium quality produce went up by Rs 400 and quoted at 1,300-1,500 a quintal while Low quality produce was at Rs 800-1,000 a quintal, Rs 400 up from previous levels.

Tomato prices have increased by Rs 400-800 a quintal over the last 10 days. On Sunday, not a single crate remained unsold because of low stocks.

According to trade experts, arrivals are likely to remain sluggish for the next 3 to 4 days and arrivals from the new crop are likely to start by the end of next week.

Quality of the stocks may remain on the lower side for the first few arrivals of the new crop.

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